Emergency release slider



J1me 1954 M. A. OKOLOWICZ EMERGENCY RELEASE SLIDER Filed Sept. 21, 1951 it E.

7 i flTIN ENTOR. BY

A A7702/VEV Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 21, 1951, Serial No. 247,642

Claims.

This invention relates to separable slide fasteners and, more particularly, to an improved slider which can be easily and effectively released to disengage a stringer from a meshed pair of stringers in emergencies as, for example, in the event of jamming or the like.

Slide fasteners of the type to which the pres ent invention is directed comprise a pair of tapes or stringers each carrying a row of fastener elements or teeth along one edge. The teeth of the two stringers are interlocked and separated by movement ofa slider along the stringers.

The slider comprises a pair of substantially parallel Y-shape plates or wings each having flanges along its outer longitudinal edges, these wings being interconnected by a post at the throat of the Y. A tab is secured to one wing for manipulating the slider. The flanges and post provide a pair of divergent channels at the throat end merging, inwardly of the post, into a single channel extending toward the mouth or stem end.

The flangesof the two wings are spaced sufl'iciently to provide clearance for the tapes therebetween, while acting as guides for the teeth. In passing from the throat into the stem channel, the teeth are guided into interlocked relation, while passage of the interlocked teeth toward the throat results in disengagement of the teeth as they diverge at the post.

Due to the relatively close clearance of the wings and their channels, it sometimes happens that materialof a garment will be snagged by the teeth and drawn into the slider; when such material joins in the-slider, movement of the latter is blocked, and considerable force is necessary to eflect release of thematerial from the slider; likewise, situations might develop wherein external blockages might prevent normal reciprocation of the slider to interlock or separate stringers or where it is desired to quickly separateinterlocked stringers other than by the normal separating movement of the slider.

Various slider constructions have been proposed for the purpose of facilitating release of the slider and the separation of one of the associated stringersfrom the other under such jamming conditions or for such other purposes. These constructions have embodied hingedly interconnected wings, a hinged section on one wing and other expedients, all of which have involved expensive, complicated, and easily deranged sliders. A very substantial objection to such prior art constructions has been that release couldbe effected only by manipulation of the back Wings of the slider, that is, the wing not carrying the pull tab, which is on the front wing of the slider. Consequently, release of the slider has been difiicult due to the difiiculty in getting at the back wing.

In accordance with the present invention, a releasable slider is provided in which release can be easily eiiected by pivoting the pull tab toward the slider neck and exerting a lateral pull on one stringer. To this end, the back plate of the slider is integral with the post and secured by the latter to a parallel intermediate plate having a projecting loop for hinging the pull tab and bevelled along one side. The top plate or wing rests on top of this intermediate plate, having a slot receiving the projecting loop.

The hinge end of the tab is formed with inwardly projecting lateral fingers arranged to engage within the loop to form the hinge, and these fingers have a width greater than the tab thickness. The width of the fingers is such that, when the tab is perpendicular to the top wing, he latter is firmly wedged against the interme diate plate. The tabalso carries a cam engageable with the top wing when the tab is swung toward the mouth end of the slider.

To release the slider, the tab isswung toward the slider throat. In this position, the thickness of the fingers is less than the height oi the loop above the top wing, so that the top wing can be moved outwardly. If a, lateral separation force is exerted on the stringers, the scoops of the stringer adjacent the bevelled edge on the intermediate plate have sufiicient clearance to be pulled laterally out of the slider between the flanges on the top and bottom wings, due to the limited outward movement of the top wing.

Hence, one stringer can be disengaged from the slider, for subsequent disengagement from the other stringer with which its scoops are in terlocked when the top wing is released by moving the tab to the release position. There is not sufficient clearance for the scoops of the other stringer, so that the slider is maintainec'l engaged therewith. For re-connection of the respective stringers, the slider is moved to the end of the other stringer, with the pull tab in the release position; the scoops of the released stringer may he laterally moved back into the channel of the slider, and the latter can then be locked by moving the tab out'of the release position.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention slider with the tab in the normal slide pulling position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom or inside wing and integral intermediate plate;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top or outer plate;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pull tab;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slider with the tab in the release position; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the slider with the tab in the locking position.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 4, the slider includes a bottom wing H], a top wing 29, and a pull tab 39. Bottom wing Iii isgenerally V- In the shaped and has the usual side rails H. Post or neck l2 extends from wing it), adjacent the throat of the Y, and is integral with an intermediate Y-shape plate [5 extending substantially parallel to Wing ID with its side edges 83, i4 substantially aligned with the inner edges of rails ll. Edge I4 is upwardly bevelled for a purpose to be described. Intermediate its ends, and centrally thereof, plate [5 has a loop it struck upwardly therefrom to form a hinge for handle tab 36, and side edge [3 has an elongated notch ll therein to provide clearance for the locking pin or prong of tab 30.

Top wing is likewise substantially l -shaped and has the usual side rails 2 E, 2i. The spacing of rails 2i is such that wing 20 can embrace plate i5 and be pcsitionally maintained thereby. Wing 26 has a central opening 22 through which loop iii projects, and a slot 23, near one edge, aligned with notch H to receive the tab locking pin. Opening 22 has sufficient clearance with loop iii to allow free outward and inward movement of wing 20.

Near its hinge end, tab 30 has a slot 3i leading to a wider opening 32. Slot 3i and opening 32 conjointly define inwardly projecting lateral fingers 35, 35, whose width, measured lengthwise of tab 39, is less than their thickness. At its outer corners adjacent its hinge end, tab 3t has bent up cams 33 one of which has a locking pin or prong 34 projecting therefrom.

To assemble the slider, wing 29 is placed on plate l5, rails inwardly, with loop l6 extending through opening 22. Slot 23 will be aligned with notch ll. Tab 36 is then attached by slipping slot 3i over loop IE5 and bending fingers 35 toward each other, the tab being so positioned that finger or point 34 is aligned with slot 23.

The normal slide pulling position of tab 36 is shown in Fig. l as being substantially normal to wing 29. The width of fingers 35 is such that, in this position, they bear on loop 55 and wing 26, forcing the latter against plate I5 to lock the wings iii and 20 in normal relation.

To release the slider from a stringer, tab 39 is swung to the position of Fig. 5. The thickness of fingers 35 is less than the clearance in loop to when wing 20 is against plate 15. Consequently, wing 20 can move outwardly in the tab position of Fig. 5. If a lateral pull is exerted on one stringer, its teeth will move along bevelled edge i i of plate !5, forcing wing 26} outwardly, and the teeth can move between the rails ii and 2% at this side edge of the slider The stringer is re-inserted by moving the slider to the end of the stringer and then moving tab 36 away from the release position.

The locked position of the slider is shown in Fig. 6. Point 34 passes through slot 23 and notch l1, and cams 33 bear on wing 20, forcing the latter against plate l5.

In general, referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the showing of Fig. 1 indicates the position of the pull tab for normal reciprocation of the slider to interlock or separate the scoops of the cooperating stringers. The showing of Fig. 6 indicates the slider in locked position with the scoops of the stringers interlocked at the stem of the slider and separable at the upper branches thereof. In all angular positions of the pull tab between those of Fig. l and Fig. 6, the wings of the slider are in fixed parallel relationship to permit interlocking and separation of the scoops of the opposing stringers by reciprocation of the slider. In Fig. 5 the pull tab is in position to permit separation of the wings of the slider, whereby one of the opposing stringers may be separated from the other by lateral movement and such separation may be effectuated once the pull tab is displaced from the position of Fig. 1 and approaches the position of Fig. 5.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A releasable slider comprising, in combination, a first wing having rails extending along its side edge and an intermediate plate secured in spaced parallel relation thereto by a slider neck 1 post, said plate having a projecting loop to receive a pull tab and said plate peripherally conforming to the portion of said wing between the rails and having at least one sloped side edge to allow stringer teeth to pass between said edge and the adjacent rail of said first wing for insertion into and removal from said slider, a second wing having rails extending along its side edge arranged to bear against said plate and having an aperture receiving said loop, and a pull tab having a pair of inwardly directed lateral fingers extendable into said loop to constitute hinge means for the tab holding the wings in assembled relation, the width of said hinge means measured along the tab being greater than the thickness of the hinge means measured through the tab, and substantially equal to the clearance in said loop when said second wing engages said plate, whereby when said tab is substantially normal to said wing, said hinge means will force said second wing against said plate, and said second wing is relatively outwardly movable when said tab is in a release position substantially parallel to said second wing.

2. A releasable slider comprising, in combination, a first wing having ra ls extending along its side edge and an intermediate plate secured in spaced parallel relation thereto by a slider neck post, said plate having a projecting loop to receive a pull tab and said plate peripherally conrorrning to the portion of sald wing between the rails, a second Wing having rails extending along its side edge arranged to bear against said plate and having an aperture receiving said loop, and a pull tab having a pair of inwardly directed lateral fingers ei-itendable into said loop to constitute hinge means for the tab holding the wings in assembled relation, the Width of said hinge means measured along the tab being greater than the thickness of the hinge means measured through the tab, and substantially equal to the clearance in said loop when said second wing engages said plate, whereby when said tab is substantially normal to said wing, said hinge means will force said second wing against said plate, and said second wing is relatively outwardly movable when said tab is in a release position substantially parallel to said second wing, one side edge of said plate being outwardly bevelled to allow stringer teeth to pass between said edge and the adjacent rail of the first wing by forcing said second wing outwardly When the tab is in the release position.

3. A releasabl slider comprising, in combination, a first wing having rails extending along its side edge and an intermediate plate secured in spaced parallel relation thereto by a slider neck post, said plate having a projecting loop to receive a pull tab and said plate peripherally conforming to the portion of said wing between the rails, said plate having a notch in one side edge, a second wing havin rails extending along its side edge arranged to bear against said plate and having an aperture receiving said loop and a slot alignable with such notch, and a pull tab having a pair of inwardly directed lateral fingers extendable into said loop to constitute hinge means for the tab holding the wings in assembled relation,

the width of said hinge means measured along the tab being greater than the thickness of the hinge means measured through the tab, and substantially equal to the clearance in said loop when said second wing engages said plate, said tab having a locking pin extending from one surface for projection through the slot and notch when such one surface i moved into parallel relation with said second wing to a slider lock position, said one surface having cams projecting therefrom engageable with said second wing, in the slider lock position of the tab, to force said second wing against said plate, whereby when said tab is substantially normal to said second wing, said hinge means will force said second wing against said element, and said second wing is relatively outwardly movable when said tab is in a release position substantially parallel to said second wing and with its outer surface nearest the second wing.

4. A releasable slider comprising, in combination, a first wing having rails extending along its side edge and an intermediate plate secured in spaced parallel relation thereto by a slider neck post, said plate having a projecting loop to receive a pull tab and said plate peripherally conforming to the portion of said wing between the rails, said plate having a notch in one side edge, a second wing havin rails extending along its side edge arranged to bear against said plate and having an aperture receiving said loop and a slot alignable with such notch, and a pull tab having a pair of inwardly directed lateral fingers extendable into said loop to constitute hinge means for the tab holding the wings in assembled relation, the width of said hinge means measured along the tab being greater than the thickness of the hinge means measured through the tab, and substantially equal to the clearance in said loop when said second wing engages said plate, said tab having a locking pin extending from one surface for projection through the slot and notch when such one surface is moved into parallel relation with said second wing to a slider lock position, said one surface having cams projecting therefrom engageable with said second wing, in the slider lock position of the tab, to force said second wing against said plate, whereby when said tab is substantially normal to said second wing, said hinge means will force said second wing against said element, and said second wing is relatively outwardly movable when said tab is in a release position substantially parallel to said second wing and with its other surface nearest the second wing, one side edge of said plate being outwardly bevelled to allow stringer teeth to pass between said edge and the adjacent rail of the first wing by forcing said second wing outwardly when the tab is in the release position.

5. A releasable slider comprising in combination a first wing having rails extending along its side edges and a bearing element secured in spaced parallel relation thereto, said bearing element peripherally conforming to the portion or" said wing between the rails, one side edge of the plate being outwardly beveled to provide passage for strin er teeth between said side edge and the adjacent rail of said first wing for insertion into and removable from said slider, and a second wing mounted for positioning against and away from said bearing element, said second wing having a depending rail adjacent the beveled side edge of the bearing element serving to seal off the passage between said beveled edge and adjacent rail of the first wing when said second wing is positioned against said bearing, said bearing element having a projecting loop, said second wing having an aperture receiving said p, and a pull tab hingedly connected to said loop, said pull tab having means thereon positively associated with said second wing, when the pull tab is in one position for urging said second wing against said bearing element, said second wing being movable away from said bearing element when the pull tab is out of said one position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,366,797 Legat Jan. 9, 1945 2,526,653 Gerstman Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 651,493 France of 1928 413,334 Great Britain of 1934 

